Illegal Immigration Enforcement

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors passed a resolution on July 10, 2007, regarding illegal immigration enforcement. This original resolution directed the Police Department to do two things:

Develop a new policy which instructs police officers to inquire into the citizenship or immigration status of persons who are lawfully detained for a violation of state or local law IF the inquiry will not unreasonably extend the detention. If a violation exists, officers are required to cooperate with ICE to the fullest extent of the law.

Acquire federal immigration enforcement authority which is obtained by signing a Memorandum of Agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As a result, the Police Department has created a specialized group called the Criminal Alien Unit. Members of this unit will receive 287(g) training that gives them the authority to enforce federal immigration laws. This unit will focus on illegal aliens who commit serious offenses including human trafficking fake ID production operations and gang involvement.

On April 29, 2008, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors passed a directive which changed the mandated stage at which police officers are required to make citizenship status inquiries. At that point, the Department policy requirements regarding mandated pre-arrest immigration inquiries (based on probable cause) were suspended. To fulfill the new directives the Police Department revised and announced an updated illegal immigration enforcement policy which is now in effect. Several important aspects of the new policy include:

Police officers will now inquire into the immigration status of all persons who are under physical custodial arrest for a violation of state or local law.